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Problem of the Week
2007.11.11

White to move and win

[need a hint?] [Solution] [archive]

Black appears to have everything under control, and is looking to ram one of those passed queen-side pawns down White's throat. White has a surprise move in store for Black. White's noticed that the black king cannot move, opening the door to possible mate threats.

1.Qxd4

Wow, is White really throwing the queen away for nothing?

1...Qxd4

1...Qd7 2.Nf5 Qxf5 Forced, else White will checkmate him sooner, rather than later. (2...h5 3.Qd1 Black cannot defend the h-pawn, and therefore cannot prevent mate.) 3.Rxf5 etc.

2.Nf5

Threatening mate on either e7 or h6. Black must avoid the mate and so doesn't have the time to defend his queen. Notice that a knight fork doesn't always have to fork two enemy pieces; sometimes it is enough to fork two important squares, or an enemy piece and an important square.

2...h5 3.Nxd4

Now White has an extra piece to help him defend against Black's passers. It should be enough to win the game.

[archive]